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Pooled shRNA Library Screening to Identify Factors that Modulate a Drug Resistance Phenotype
Published on: June 17, 2022
Elevated PAF1-RAD52 axis confers chemoresistance to human cancers
Sanchita Rauth1, Koelina Ganguly1, Pranita Atri1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
Abstract:
Cisplatin- and gemcitabine-based chemotherapeutics represent a mainstay of cancer therapy for most solid tumors; however, resistance limits their curative potential. Here, we identify RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 (PAF1) as a common driver of cisplatin and gemcitabine resistance in human cancers (ovarian, lung, and pancreas). Mechanistically, cisplatin- and gemcitabine-resistant cells show enhanced DNA repair, which is inhibited by PAF1 silencing. We demonstrate an increased interaction of PAF1 with RAD52 in resistant cells. Targeting the PAF1 and RAD52 axis combined with cisplatin or gemcitabine strongly diminishes the survival potential of resistant cells. Overall, this study shows clinical evidence that the expression of PAF1 contributes to chemotherapy resistance and worse clinical outcome for lethal cancers.
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